When you homeschool, everyone seems concerned about socialization. And honestly, it can be tricky when you move to a new place! You don’t have instant access to a group of kids your children’s exact age. My poor mailman may be getting more of an earful from my lonely 6-year-old than he bargained for—but hey, connections are everywhere!

 The Reality of Building Community in Southern California

In all seriousness, I know from previous moves that building new friend groups takes time and intentionality, especially when parents have to be the main catalyst of connection (while also keeping everyone learning and fed!).

What I love about homeschooling, though, is how my children interact with people of all ages—something that rarely happens in traditional settings. When else in life are we only surrounded by people exactly our own age? Since moving from Vancouver to Southern California, we’ve connected with:

– Family, especially grandparents we didn’t have nearby before
– Other homeschoolers at park days across Southern California (check out local Facebook groups to find these!)
– Instructors and peers in various classes
– Neighbors during our daily family walks
– Each other through games, meals, and everyday life together

There’s something special about the mixed-age friendships that develop in homeschool groups. Children learn to communicate with toddlers, teens, and adults alike, developing social skills that serve them well throughout life.

 What I’ve Been Missing

Despite finding these connections, I’ve been thinking a lot about the community we left behind in Vancouver. We had this little co-op called HeartWise where families actually learned together, not just dropped kids off for classes.

Since moving here, I’ve been looking around for a similar community, but haven’t quite found what I’m hoping for—a place where kids can learn through hands-on experiences and where parents get to be part of the journey too. As I mentioned in my post about [The World as Our Classroom: Homeschooling Adventures in Los Angeles), LA offers incredible activities everywhere we turn, yet ironically, this abundance often leaves us running from place to place but missing genuine connection. Our calendars may be full while our hearts quietly hunger for something deeper. Nothing has really aligned with my vision for building a village of families who want to learn alongside one another in experiential ways both outside and inside the classroom.

 Introducing HeartWise SoCal

That’s why I’m excited to bring our HeartWise community to Southern California! HeartWise isn’t just about dropping kids off for classes.

What makes HeartWise truly special is that it’s a community for the whole family. Parents build meaningful, supportive friendships with each other while children gain “aunties” and “uncles” they can look up to beyond their immediate family.

It’s about creating an extended family of sorts—taking nature hikes together where kids explore freely, spending afternoons at the beach where children build elaborate sandcastles with intricate waterways while moms connect through wonderful conversations, learning new skills at historical sites (my husband was like an excited kid learning all about blacksmithing when we visited!), camping under the stars, and gathering for BBQs and potlucks. If you’re looking for a village where:

– Children learn through natural curiosity and exploration
– Parents participate in the learning journey
– Outdoor adventures are prioritized
– Meaningful traditions are created together

I’d love to connect with you! HeartWise is growing right here in the San Gabriel Valley, and we’re looking for families who share this vision of building genuine connections while learning together.

Have you found your homeschool village yet? What has helped you build community in a new place? And if HeartWise sounds like what you’ve been searching for, let’s connect in the comments below

HeartWise Vancouver Mamas Fall 23′